Educational device



H M. PORTER- EDUCATIONAL DEVICE- APPLICATION FILED oc.3. 1919.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

m avwantoz i HarazdmJm-nr Q 4' H. M PORTER EDUCATIONAL DEVICE.

APPLICATIION FILED DEC. 3. 1919.

1,350,237, Patented Aug. 17,1920

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Snvemtoz Harold 1'1 -P07'Zer H. M. PORTER.

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED 056.3. 1919.

Patnted Aug. 17, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

v of theinvention, such further outward movement, a removable UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD ivrrolvrnn, OFHAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR 'ro THE PORTER CHEMICAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION, or MARYLAND.

A EDUCATIONAL DEVI E.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAROLD of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Educational De vices and I do hereby declare the following to be a'full, clear, and exact description as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same. I f I This invention relates to educational devices designed to furnish instruction to children while entertaining them. It has in view to provide a knock-down or collapsible working outfit or laboratory whose parts can form a firm and stable structure and provided with the necessary features to carry out conveniently the operations and manipulations involved in, such a device and, at the same time, to be readilytaken apart and to permit the apparatus and material employed to be packed away and stored-in a compact form,'sa:rely and withoutliability to breakage of part thereof.

An outfit the fragile articles forming of the character contemplated under this inventioncomprises a box or a cover adapted to ;be

receptacle having upright posiswung open to a vertical. or

rtion,'that is, at right angles to the body of thebox'and held in such position against tray for carrying vials, test-tubes or similar articles arranged to lie horizontally. within V the box and, when the outfit 1s to be PiltlHtO- working shape, to be placed into an upright position, .oneiof its endslbeingadapted to engage a receiving part or guide at one end of the box body and in such relation to the opened box cover as to retain the same in its opened position, thereby forming with the same aworkng 'laboratoryor work shop corner the inner bottom of the boxbody serving as a table on which the var ous operat ons may be performed, the tray serving as a shelving torvials containing reagents and chemicals and as atest tube rack.

The lllllQIlOI. of the box 1s cleats near one end, which cleats "not only serve to support the tray when in its hori zontal position within the box,

wi .one e d Qtfih O th ecei ng p r M. 136 m, a citizen of the United States, residing: at Hagersto'wn, county of l/Vashington, State.

be readily assembled for use to fittedwith" but to form Specificatio ef Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 17, 1920;. Application filed December 3, .1919. Serial No. 342,054.

vguidifofrthe y when installed'in its p ght. position, L

Where the tray s made shorter than the interior of the box thecleats are rabbeted,v

or stepped at their tops to both support the tray and to retain it against shifting or longitudinal movement. VVhcre in a laboratory dry reagents and chemicals are used, thesame may under my invention be stored clesfrom shifting and to hold them in position, one part of the invention contemplates theuse of, a plate of less lengthv than that of the box andhavingan upright flange or guard-to be placed in the bottom of: the

same, the upright guard or flange serving to hold the receptacles in place and to divide the nterior of the box into two. compartments.

Other. features of theinvention will be come clear from the following detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing have rep resented an embodiment of my'invention as applied to a portable outfit for chemical operations in the form of a knock-down laboratory intended mainly for juvenile use.

In this drawing e v i Flgure 1 represents a perspective View of the same opened, with the combined tray and vial shelf. andtest'tube rack in its hori zontal POS1ti011;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with said tray removed; 7 1

Fig; 3 is a slmilarview with allthe parts of the laboratory assembled for use;

Fig. 4; is a vertical longitudinalsection on r i a reduced scaleot the laboratory in operative position; and v Fig. 5is a detail view in vertical section. Asillustrated in this drawing, the new device'comprises a box or case made of any suitable, preferably light, material such as wood or card board, to the body portion 1 of which is hinged at the top ofone of its longer side walls a cover 2, adapted tobe swung openand to'be retained'in a vertical orupright position and against further outward movement by any suitable stay ordetent,such as a flexible retaining band or cleats 9, 9, the upper surfaces of said cleats Within the body of the box, at a point near one of its end walls 4 on each side wall 5, 6, .is arranged. an uprightcleat 7, the two cleats 7, 7 forming with the end wall'ia receiving part in the form of a guide way or socket whose function will hereinafterv apsite end of the box are arranged or formed forming with the upper surfaces 11, 11,01"-

the cleats 7, 7, in the same horizontal plane with the former,a support for a tray B,

y when packed away in the interior of the box,

the tray, which means, in the present inments and reactions for Which the outfit is as shown in Fig. 1. If, as shown'in the drawings, said tray is of a length less than that of the box-interior, means are provided for preventing the lengthwise shifting of stance consist in forming a rabbet or step 11 in each of the cleats 7 at their top,'the forward end of the tray B fitting into said rabbets of the stepped cleats -'7 at its lower edge and its length substantially occupying the space between the end wall Set the box and the vertical surfaces of the ra-bbets, as

seen in Fig. 1.

Fitting within thebody-of the box is a plate 12 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) formed with an upright guard in the form of a flange 13, side flanges 14;, 1 1, at right angles'thereto, being formed on said upright flange at both sidesthereof. The said flanged plate 153 is preferably made removable from the box interior and of a length substantially equal to that of compartment 16 in which it is situated. This plate, which is preferably made of impermeable or oiled or glazed card board or of thin sheet metal, not only serves topartitionoff the interior of the box into two cmpartments 15 and '16 by means of flange or guard 13, but also as a working table when the compartment .16 has been emptied of its contents packed therein when the case is not in use.- On the working table thus provided the experi- (lesignie'dv maybe conveniently carried out without injuring or defacing thezniaterial of the boX.

made by a band of flexible material, such as thin oiled card-board, leather, or the like 16,

'. securedto the cover at'intervals, thereby forming loops 17, into which such implements maybe slipped. A stripbf impervious sheet material 18such as oiled card board, be applied to the cover behind and below the loops, as shown;

The tray B serves the purpose of combined packingand storing receptacle for fragile vials and test-tubes and a test tube secured thereto.

rack and shelving for reagent bottles 0r forth. has a bottom 20 of stiff sheet mapear. At the two inner corners at the oppo-v terial such as oiled or lazedcard board a a; 7 To this bottom are,attached at intervals flanged shelves 21, made in the present instance of sheet material,

such as oiled or glazed card boardfbent to the form of rectangular troughs s'ecuredin' any-suitable manner, by gluing to the bottom 20. WVhenjthe tray isin-its ho'ri zental position, as in Fig.- 1, the upper flanges 22 of: the shelves 21 serve to reta n the reagent bottles or vials in position and against being-joltediout ofpositi'on while when the tray B is in the vertical posit on represented in Figs. 3 and 4, they act-es fenders to hold said'bottles or vials iii'piz At the inner end of the t'ray,-constitu.

its bottom, when in an upriglit'pcsitien, 15

arranged a holder 23for testitubes- 41, con sisting, as shown,of'a'str1p of sheet ma terial,.such asgthin oiled or. glazed card board or thelike, be nt inform of atrough,

whose upright sidez-Qi (when the tray is in the horizontalposition of F ig;-1-) is formed witli'perforations 25 suitable intervals; such perforations serving to receiveand re tain test tubes when in use and when the tray occupies the upright position shown in Fig. 3. This holder .isisecured to the bottom' 20 of the'tray in the same manner as the shelves 21, or in [any other suitable way. hen the tray is packed away in tliGbOX for shipping, as seen in Fig. 1, the Vialsand i the test tubes are secured against'movement by strings or cords {15 passing around them-v. and through the bottom of the tray. These cords are, removed or severed when the are:

ticles are to be used;

for manipulating the reagents and test tubes, in compartment 15 separated hem compartment 16by the flange '13, the tray B beingplaced horizontally'fover the said compartments in the positionshown in Fig. 1. ()n opening the case and swinging the The outfit thusdescribed is adapted for .use as follows, it being assumed that the box is closed and that the reagerits, instriiiib cover into the upright position. indicatedin the drawings, the same is held. against swinging farther backward by the stay band 3. The tray B which, as-above exthus assembled, there is formed a complete necessary firmness, but also serves as a check or guard for the cover 2, as seen in Figs. 8 and 4:, locking the same in its upright position. To form a still stiffer connection for these parts, the tray is provided at its bottom at the edge which comes adjacent to the cover 2, in the position in Fig. 3, with a swinging hook 81, adapted to en'- gage with a pin 32 on the inner surface of the end flange 33 of cover '2, as shown in Fig. 5. i

such as a test-tube clamp 34; test-tube brush 36 etcrare now taken out of the receptacle compartment 15, and inserted into the holding'loops of the cover 2, so asto disencumher the plate 12 and permit'the same to be used as a laboratory table. The parts being laboratory corner of reduced size in'which all of the chemical processes and manipula tions' may be carried out with convenience, all of the reagents, chemicals, etc, being ina convenient position for use and with respect to the laboratory table. The laboratory in miniature thus formed is also stable and not liable to be disarranged, the tray serving not only the purposes'of shelving for reagents and test tube rack,'but also as? a stay for the cover 2 to retain-the same in its vertical position, and when the operations involve the use of a lamp 37, to protect the flame against sudden gusts ofair.

The boxes or smaller receptacles 26, containing dry chemicals are preferably of a height equal to the height of the bottom of the tray above the bottom of the box when packed away in a horizontal position in the box body, thereby forming a support for the said tray in cooperation with the cleats 7, 7

When arranged in sufficient number, as in the example represented in the drawing (Figs. 2 and 3) they serve as a stop for the removable'fianged plate 12, and'fwhen the said plate is of the same length as the compartment 15, as in the case illustrated in the drawing, the said receptacles combine with the flange 13 on said plate to form two fixed compartments 15' and 16, one for the said receptacles and the other for the articles to be stored when the'laboratory is dismantled and packed away, the flange 13 bemgthus held stationary. The said plate 12 is slidfrom the box and,'being;tilted I A number of the implementsand articles,

able andthereby adapted to adjust the compartment-15 to a varying number of receptacles or other articles to be received b the same The space betweenthe tray and the end of the box where the cleats 7 7 *are" situated serves as a receptacle for articles of a larger height than those packed in or under the tray, for example, a mortar I 46 and the like. The total length of the tray is preferably made of a length substantially equal to the depth of the box interior plus the height of the under side of the cover when raised into the upright position. a

What I claim isi 1. i In a device of the character set forth, a box provided with a receiving part at-one ofits walls,jin combination with aremovable and" detached tray arranged to fit into the box interior and to lie flat therein when closed and so formed'at one end as tofit and engage the receiving part when in'an upv right position.

' 2. In a'device of the character set forth, a box p'rovided'with a slide way at one of its inner walls, in combination with atransversely partitioned tray arranged to lie flat in the box and having sides of a depth substantially equal to the width of the slide way, whereby the tray may be caused to engage said slide way, being held thereby in anupright position to serve as a shelving.

3. In a device of the character set'forth, a box provided on its interior with uprightcleats at opposite. sides near one end wall, said cleats forming guide ways with said end-wall, in combination with a transversely partitioned tray, adapted to lie horizontally in the box and so formed'at one end as to fit into and engage the guide ways when tilted into an upright position.

forth,

4. In a device of the character set a box interiorly provided with upright cleats forming guide ways with one end wall, said cleats being rabbeted at their tops to. form bearing surfaces and vertical res taining. shoulders; additional bearing surfaces at a point away from the guide ways terior facing upward when closed, and" means for securingsaid tray with its'inte-- rior facing toward the saldbody portlon when in an upright position.

6. In a device of the character set forth, 1'80 a-body portionserving-as a receptacle and a work table, in combination with a trans versely partitioned 1 tray arranged to fit into the interior of saitlbody-portion and to lie flattherein with its interior facing upwardwhe'n closed, and means for securing said tray with its interior 1 facing toward theflsaid body-portion when moved into anupright position. J $7. In a'd'evice of the character set forth, a rectangular box body,fa :coverhinged thereto, means-to prevent said cover from swinging outwardbeyond an. upright posi-,

tion, and a slide way at one end of the box and in line with the contiguous end of the cover, incombination with a, tray adapted tO'fit iDtO and engage the slide way when upright, whereby the said tray extends into the pathof the cover andre'tains. the same in its upright position.

- 8. In a device of theeharacter set forth, abox body, cover hingedthereto, means to prevent said cover from swinging outward beyond an -upright posit-ion and a guideway at one end ofthe box and in line with thecontiguous end of the-cover, in combination with a tray adapted to fit and engage the guide way when upright, and a i so,

locking device between the tray and the cover, whereby said tray extends lnto the path of'the cover, retaining the'same in its upright position, the two parts beingzlocked ass ' 9. Ina deviceof the in this position.

character described, arectangular box provided with a cover hinged thereto, and means for preventing the cover from swinging outward beyond an upright 7 position, in combination with a tray, means to alternately supportthe tray in its horizontal-position in the box-or to secure it in a vertical position andadjacent to the under side, of ithe box cover when swung into an upright position, whereby the-tray serves to hold=the cover in 'itsupright position, the tray being of a length equal tothe interior depth of the box, body plus the height of the upturned cover.

1O; In a device ofthe character set forth, a box, in combination with a plate shorter in length than the interior of'the boxbody and serving as a combined partition and Workingtable, said plate resting on the botin which the plate is'situated, and-a plurality of receptacles in the other compartment which are-atthe' top of the tray when in a y horizontalposition and at the front when upright.

13. In a device of the character. set forth, a convertible tray and laboratory shelving, consisting in a rectangular body having transverse partitions substantially at right angles thereto and formed with flanges which are at the top of the tray when in a horizontal position and at the front when upright, the partitions *being formed of sheet-material 'bentinto trough shape, one side of the trough-shaped partition vbeing securedito the tray-bottom 14:. Ina device of the characterjset forth, aconveitible tray and laboratory shelving consisting vin a rectangular body having transverse -flanged partitions formedof trough-shaped sheet material and having secured at one .end thereof an inverted troughshaped body of sheet material perforated at its face transverse to the body of the tray for the reception ofitest-tubes, when the tray is upright.

' '15. In a'deviceof the characterdescribed, the combination,with a box having a cover 7 hinged thereto, of tray fitting within said box andmovable into an upright position 7 within saidbox when the cover islifted, and meansoperable when said-tray is in such up right; position to lock the cover to: the tray.

16. "A knock-down miniature laboratory device comprising in combination, atable or bench member, a wall memberhinged-there to and capable-of beingswung; into a position at rightangles thereto, and a second wall member capable-of being positioned at right angles to bothsaid table or bench member andthefirst wallmember, and means preventing dislocation of the aforesaid parts with relation to each other when so positioned, substantially asset forth. i,

17.'A knock-down miniature laboratory device comprising in combination, a horizontaltable or bench member, aplurality'of wall members adapted to be' adjustably se- I cured to said table or :benchmember and to each other in-upright position .totlaterally' shield a corner of saidtable, and shelving means carried by one of'said-wall substantially asset forth. H V

, 18. A knock-down miniature laboratory device comprising, in-combinat'iom a normembers,

mally horizontal table-providing member,

two movable wall; members which can be p0.-

sitioned vertically with respect to said tableproviding member and which, when so posi' tioned, cooperate to laterally shield a corner of the same, and means for releasably holding the parts in the relation specified, said wall members being collapsible upon said tableproviding means when released, substantially as set forth.

19. A knock-down miniature laboratory device, comprising, in combination, a normally horizontal table-providing member, two movable wall members which can be positioned vertically with respect to said tableproviding member and which, when so posi tioned, cooperate to laterally shield a corner of the same, means for releasably holding the parts in the relation specified, said wall members being collapsible upon said table-providing means when released, and shelving means on one of said walls, substantially as set forth.

20. In a collapsible laboratory, a part serving as a receptacle for the articles emaloyed in the laboratory and as a work table, and a part serving as a cover therefor, in combination with a shelved removable and detached part adapted to be stored in the part serving as a receptacle and means to lock the same in such relation to the part serving as a cover, that it retains the same in its opened position and forms therewith and with the part serving as a receptacle a laboratory corner.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HAROLD M. PORTER. 

